tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63435072011-12-15T02:57:06.355ZAn Englishman who went to live in Philadelphia only to be amazed on his return at how little Britain seemed to trust people. Now back rambling, ranting and winding up lefties...Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.comBlogger6241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-58899004639772927672008-05-03T15:31:00.003Z2008-05-03T15:35:16.104Z

Oh, sweet irony!Thursday's Guardian contained the most nauseating vile attack on Boris to try to scare people into sticking with the corrupt, dictator-appeasing Ken: see it here.In particular, Arabella Weir "actor and writer" became very serious about the prospect of him winning, saying "I will go on hunger strike and throw myself in front of the next horse at Ascot if he wins. Failing that I was

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-88079257244441256772008-05-03T15:30:00.001Z2008-05-03T15:30:58.449Z

I've been away for a while; Blogger lost my account in the ether; I got it back; Boris got elected! Hopefully I'll be back more regularly now!

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-49980512299446803292007-05-23T08:21:00.000Z2007-05-23T08:23:54.063Z

Your Political Profile:Overall: 85% Conservative, 15% LiberalSocial Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% LiberalPersonal Responsibility: 75% Conservative, 25% LiberalFiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% LiberalEthics: 75% Conservative, 25% LiberalDefense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-91154248667092636592007-03-29T08:48:00.000Z2007-03-29T08:49:43.752Z

Well said Bloc Party: ""Why is it bad to better yourself? It is really daft to reinforce the idea that there is something cool about being dumb," he told Uncut magazine."We need more so-called "role models" to be a little bit more responsible.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1171019652666405942007-02-09T11:13:00.000Z2007-02-09T11:14:12.693Z

Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round heads in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for thestatus-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1166966231865924162006-12-24T13:16:00.000Z2006-12-24T13:17:11.890Z

Merry Christmas all. I hope 2007 is both prosperous and successful for you, and that it will mark a more regular and meaningful return to blogging for me at some point.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1165482463981551602006-12-07T09:07:00.000Z2006-12-07T09:07:44.036Z

"Let every man or woman here, if you never hear me again, remember this, that if you wish to be great at all, you must begin where you are and with what you are. He who would be great anywhere must first be great in his own Philadelphia." Russel H. Conwell

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1164619549579574922006-11-27T09:25:00.000Z2006-11-27T09:25:49.606Z

"If you are going to go through hell, keep going."Winston Churchill

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1164364181572042572006-11-24T10:29:00.000Z2006-11-24T10:29:41.596Z

"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle.The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1163873222419835412006-11-18T18:04:00.000Z2006-11-18T18:07:02.446Z

So Gordon Brown has flown to Iraq. It is topping the news schedules still and has all day. Can you explain just one thing to me, though? Why, oh why does the British taxpayer need to pay for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to visit? Shouldn't the Foreign Secretary or Defence Secretary be a little ahead of him in the queue?

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1163712585800015152006-11-16T21:29:00.000Z2006-11-16T21:29:45.836Z

RIP Milton Friedman.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1162459981739150002006-11-02T09:31:00.000Z2006-11-02T09:33:01.763Z

This is what politics is about. Wouldn't it be a dream story if Lieberman held onto Connecticut despite being dumped by the dinosaurs of the left who dominate the Democratic Party there?

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1160325756340778922006-10-08T16:20:00.000Z2006-11-18T18:27:23.476Z

So what do I think of David Cameron and how he's doing? Notwithstanding my non-appearance at the Tory Party Conference last week I still retain a strong desire to see New Labour torn from office and replaced with a viable alternative more in keeping with this country and its evolving traditions. But do I want this to be DC?I have written since the eve of the last general election about how the

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1160324346379139942006-10-08T16:15:00.000Z2006-10-08T16:20:08.100Z

To those of you hoping to see me at the Conservative Party Conference: apologies. The world of work kept me far too busy to contemplate attending! My Conference debut will have to wait at least another year... Alas!This, in particular a new job, is the rather poor excuse for my sporadic posting of late as well. Despite beavering away frenetically during the week I often find an interesting idea

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1159381472836058042006-09-27T18:21:00.000Z2006-09-27T18:24:32.913Z

The more I hear about 18 Doughty Street Talk TV the more impressed I am. It is just the shake-up that the political establishment needs and is also attracting enough heavy-hitters to justify some of its hype. I've just heard that a very well-qualified presenter has been recruited for foreign affairs segments who I feel fortunate to count as a friend. He'll be sure to provide the channel with

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1159312478497190432006-09-26T23:03:00.000Z2006-09-26T23:16:57.713Z

Tony Blair's speech today demonstrated how Labour just doesn't get the concept of freedom. The fact the substance is being dwelt on so much less than the personalities shows how far political coverage in the UK has slipped. Surely this is truly a defining difference between the Tories and the Government. Just look at some of what he had to say:"I don't want to live in a police state or a Big

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1159271691312212362006-09-26T11:42:00.000Z2006-09-26T11:54:51.363Z

Having just moved into a new flat I'm delighted I've already begun to attract hangers on! No sooner have I become a Bloomsbury resident than news begins to seep out of a new television station just down the road in Doughty Street. I have to say that I am very excited by it, and not just because 18 Doughty Street may be just down the road from me. It is a great opportunity to challenge the

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1159270910247342272006-09-26T11:38:00.000Z2006-09-26T11:41:50.246Z

This entire spat with Brown and Blair would now barely be worthy of Coronation Street or Eastenders. Isn't it all getting just a little tedious? They managed to tolerate each other whilst the trappings of power dangled before them, but now it's all become old hat their real feelings come out. Can't they just learn from Peggy and Dot? Just have it out and be done with it. Otherwise ratings for

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1158000693665785102006-09-11T18:45:00.000Z2006-09-11T18:51:33.720Z

David Cameron's foreign policy speech (full run-down here) was full of decent, deep, thought-provoking stuff. What's more it was particularly brave of him to speak out on this day of all days about an issue such as this. It should go some way to helping debunk the "spin over substance" line of attack which is infrequently thrown at him.Our foreign policy under Blair has often tried to pursue the

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1157911960924234472006-09-10T18:05:00.000Z2006-09-10T19:46:54.113Z

New webroots campaign launched yesterday - PrisonWorks.org - looks very interesting. The pros and cons of prison have always bugged and intrigued me. I remain certain, however, whilst not ignoring the deterrent it can represent, that, it can be a force for good with a greater emphasis on how prisoners are treated whilst inside. It can help criminals rebuild and reshape their lives.For a period

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1157799622615781172006-09-09T10:59:00.000Z2006-09-09T11:00:22.646Z

I love Guido. But you did hear this here first!

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1157639470672750922006-09-07T14:22:00.000Z2006-09-07T14:33:32.896Z

With any politician, especially one as gifted as Blair, you have to listen to precisely what words they use. The MSM doesn't seem to have picked up on this, but in his statement a few minutes ago Blair announced this would be his last Labour conference as Labour leader, not as PM. Were I Gordon Brown this would worry me greatly. Doesn't it offer the prospect of the leadership election culminating

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1157622434942615822006-09-07T09:40:00.000Z2006-09-07T09:47:14.993Z

I know it's only the latest in a litany of broken promises but does the New Labour project have no shame with having duped the nation with "Blair will serve a full third term"? Regardless of wrangling over his precise departure date, if it is at any point next year there is absolutely no way he can be said to have done a full term.Worse, though, is Jack Straw's attempt to rewrite our constitution

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1157559251476224642006-09-06T15:54:00.000Z2006-09-06T16:14:18.003Z

Whilst away I also pondered the question of Ming Campbell's gas-guzzling Jaguar. Had he managed to sell it? We never actually heard, of course, despite loud declarations of his intent. To this end I thought I'd contact those friendly people at Lib Dem head office to find out...Unfortunately the rottweiler at the end of the phone could only badger me with "Why do you need to know?". For some

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1157557826702382472006-09-06T15:48:00.000Z2006-09-06T15:50:26.706Z

Another great post from Laban on how benefits can be used to not only be compassionate to people but also to positively help them focus on what they can do to help themselves. I studied this model in the US and it has genuinely interesting potential over here. But, as Laban says, Blair bottled it when he sacked Fields.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1157557495837005792006-09-06T15:38:00.000Z2006-09-06T15:44:55.900Z

Whilst I've been around the world I've had a number of ideas I'd hoped to expand into lengthier blog posts. Now I'm just keen to get them down before I forget them.My first is this. Many of us are, obviously, pleased and proud to try to offer decent universal healthcare in Britain. We would like this to continue.How, though, is it right that those running the NHS benefit by offering a bad service

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1157557045750871982006-09-06T15:34:00.000Z2006-09-06T15:37:25.790Z

It's been a while. And a pretty eventful while at that. Safely returned from my visit to Belarus, the "last outpost of tyranny" in Europe, despite room searches whilst we were out, visits to collective farms, conversations with democracy campaigners and Police tractors! I also survived the alleged queues at Heathrow and managed a fantastic romantic week away in Venice. Hoping now to resume

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1154189746634672012006-07-29T16:15:00.000Z2006-07-29T16:15:46.636Z

Problems with blogger...posting will be light for a few days...

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1153407528012143392006-07-29T14:58:00.000Z2006-07-29T16:15:13.733Z

He is a "famous resident" of the Black Country for saying controversial things whenever prompted.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1153402393670925992006-07-20T13:24:00.000Z2006-07-21T17:07:52.363Z

The LibDems never change do they? No sooner has the brilliant Harriett Baldwin been selected as a Conservative candidate in West Worcestershire than the LD cheap attacks begin.The great irony is that their own candidate isn't from anywhere near Worcestershire himself. Not only has Richard Burt already been rejected by local Lib Dems let alone the wider electorate - they rejected him as their

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1153399623167943122006-07-20T12:37:00.000Z2006-07-20T13:17:18.830Z

I have long been aware that the question of the "diversity" of judges would soon become a battle ground. I've also expressed great concern that the Conservative "Priority List" will hamper the Party's ability to criticise steps to water down the quality of our judiciary in a substantively pointless attempt to reach "quotas" for apparently desirable personal qualities. Indeed, I put it to a senior

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1153398603391107302006-07-20T12:20:00.000Z2006-07-20T13:21:22.866Z

This morning a piece of Soviet Russia dropped through my letterbox. The monthly Ken Livingstone promotion "newspaper", The Londoner, arrived. Flicking through it over breakfast I was staggered by just how eerily similar it seemed to the sort of "Tractor Production Rises" rubbish that people in Belarus must still be blighted by.My particular favourite page of propaganda was the one littered with

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1153397939187625452006-07-20T11:47:00.000Z2006-07-20T12:18:59.226Z

Ming "Werther's Grandad" Campbell was on Newsnight last night for a cringeworthy session clearly dreamt up by his new PR chief to stimulate a change in his perception. Aside from the fact it was painfully counter-productive it's just too late. His public persona is already too well -defined and he just doesn't have the vivacity - despite however great his convictions may be - to shake the

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1153395486914206812006-07-19T10:31:00.000Z2006-07-20T11:38:06.916Z

We will all have seen the images coming out of the Middle East over the last week and felt a profound sense of disappointment that the peoples of the region are so vehemently opposed to each other that violence seems the only way forward. I normally try to steer clear of this subject in polite company, or at least I have done since university when the mention of Israel or the Palestinians was

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1153238324077185432006-07-18T15:12:00.000Z2006-07-18T15:58:45.673Z

Faisal Bodi makes a brave effort in today's Guardian to defend the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) against recent attacks that it is too radical and that it harbours militant Islamists whose views are entirely incompatible with the liberal democratic society we cherish in Britain. That he feels the need to come to its aid shows a huge U-turn from the former editor of "Ummah News.com" and betrays

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1152721197470372602006-07-12T16:08:00.000Z2006-07-12T16:21:12.556Z

Lord Levy's arrest is a terrible blow for this Government (Blair in particular but also Brown) which now clings to the trappings of power and office like a limpet to the base of a trawler. This is a shameful moment for all involved with the Government. The police are to be commended for taking action as they have and for conducting what would seem to be a thorough and patient investigation.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1152438751142525302006-07-09T09:48:00.000Z2006-07-09T09:52:31.166Z

It's come to my attention that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who my friend in Hull tells me is always keen on Peking Duck at Labour bashes at his chinese restaurant in the city, has written to supermarket staff thanking them for supplying him with chicken drumsticks. There are apparently photos floating around, courtesy of Simon Lloyd, of Prezza's gushing note praising the Sainsbury's

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1152371335086269052006-07-08T15:04:00.000Z2006-07-08T15:08:55.110Z

I don't like making unnecessarily partisan points but I have to say the response by the Tories to this shameful carry-on by the LibDems during the Bromley by-election is exemplary. Well done Bob Neill and the Conservative council on taking action.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1152276557053491102006-07-07T12:48:00.000Z2006-07-07T12:49:17.056Z

Much vaunted dissection of the ridiculous "British Bill of Rights" idea later; for now I thought I'd share this link to Idiots for Labour.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1152276331954732182006-07-06T23:43:00.000Z2006-07-07T12:45:31.983Z

Had an intriguing chat at a dinner I attended earlier this evening which suggested that very senior members of the Cabinet were now vocally pushing for Prescott to go. My own view is that whereas this is obviously even more humiliating for Prezza (if that's possible) the simple fact he is elected Labour Deputy Leader means there's no way he'll be sacked and no way, as a result, that he'll quit.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1152114581863534272006-07-05T15:48:00.000Z2006-07-07T12:26:51.263Z

Admission time. I have taken to reading the Guardian. Normally I am refreshingly surprised at the quality of much of the writing and the seriousness of the content. Even if it is worryingly earnest at times. I am also, almost without exception, staggered at the wrongheadedness of many of the views expressed.Yesterday was one such day. I'd managed to plough through most of the journal over my

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1152001086507532342006-07-04T08:17:00.000Z2006-07-04T08:18:06.556Z

Happy Independence day to America. You guys have done alright on your own...

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1151856129846239202006-07-02T15:59:00.000Z2006-07-02T16:02:09.876Z

Perhaps Geno's has become overly confrontational on this, but surely there's nothing wrong with expecting those able to speak English to speak English and those unable to try?That said, when I first got to Philly I'm not sure how easily my understanding of "English" went down with American speakers!

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1151831637223092442006-07-02T09:08:00.000Z2006-07-02T09:19:34.166Z

-How can Cristiano Ronaldo keep playing in England after such a deeply cynical performance?-Why didn't Sven publicly admit that taking Theo Walcott was a mistake? It was shown up in the most stark manner yeterday once Rooney was sent off.-Perhaps we have to accept England will never win a penalty shoot-out. That part of any international match is now such a psychological barrier to fans and

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1151668178180059342006-06-30T11:48:00.000Z2006-06-30T11:49:38.226Z

I was enchanted, yesterday, by Robert Kendrick's valiant heroics against Nadal in Wimbledon.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1151659646388079432006-06-30T09:21:00.000Z2006-06-30T09:27:26.410Z

Despite the apparent defeatism prevalent in some of the press today it is a good day for the Tories. This YouGov poll shows the party with a solid lead over Labour, it shows the parties level-pegging on economic competence - a crucially significant polling figure - and the Conservative leader more popular than the Prime Minister for the first time ever. These are significant steps forward for the

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1151590159695701532006-06-29T14:08:00.000Z2006-06-29T14:09:19.736Z

The Lib Dems are at it again in Bromley.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1151243892520887242006-06-25T13:57:00.000Z2006-06-25T13:58:12.546Z

Internet connection has been down; in the meantime Come on England!

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1151069432076908922006-06-23T13:27:00.000Z2006-06-23T13:30:32.080Z

Pub Philosopher philosophises about the reaction of vocal elements of the Muslim community to bombings in the name of Islam as opposed to their reaction to elements of policing. Well worth a read. Whereas I feel any of the vocal elements may well not be representative of the vast majority of Muslim Britons there is increasingly a burden on them to make it positively clear they are not represented

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1151068185033479342006-06-23T13:05:00.000Z2006-06-23T13:10:02.843Z

Isn't it about time that the Government woke up to the fact that this sort of power generation is not sustainable, despite what they say, and will have a lasting negative impact on the species and the delicate balance of the planet?OK, the species in question is the eagle, not the human race, so its not going to attract the same headlines, but with all the wittering we hear about the evils of

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1150896598463810562006-06-23T12:59:00.000Z2006-06-23T13:22:01.976Z

Full marks to the Oxford Union for this debate on the Danish cartoons of Mohammed and the limits of free speech. Amongst the speakers was the cultural editor of Jyllands-Posten, the newspaper which first published them. Apparently it required extensive security operations owing to the threat perceived by the police. Nonetheless, I am delighted that it went ahead and that a free and open exchange

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1150897521933744032006-06-21T13:43:00.000Z2006-06-21T13:45:22.006Z

It's all about a power grab so that the central institutions can gain authority.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1150894390461616262006-06-21T12:51:00.000Z2006-06-21T12:53:10.526Z

Reflections on England's draw with Sweden along with some fascinating writing from Militant Moderate over at the Touchline Bawler. Apart from Joe Cole's blinder my highlight of the evening was the heckle, in somewhat poor taste, that the onlooker "knew he should have started Crouch", as Owen lay in agony after the first minute of the game...

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1150891143770819012006-06-21T11:39:00.000Z2006-06-21T12:01:42.126Z

Jeremy Paxman's clash with Ann Coulter on Newsnight last night was a classic. In case you don't know she is the outspoken Republican supporter billed as the right-wing's Michael Moore who specialises in lefty-baiting and courting general controversy. To promote herself, of course. As you may expect she was greeted with the BBC's typically left-establishment bent from the beginning of her

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1150304060318335402006-06-14T16:33:00.000Z2006-06-14T16:54:20.366Z

The furore over short prison terms is just the latest example of how easily ascertained, widely-held principles can become almost irredeemably tangled up by the Byzantine complexity inevitably resulting from repeated Government interference. The criminal justice "system" ought to represent a few fairly straightforward principles which the courts can apply when it comes to sentencing and

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1150111091343200392006-06-12T11:07:00.000Z2006-06-12T11:22:29.976Z

A fascinating new blog has been started up at Sack the Sheriff to lobby for the resignation or sacking of John Clarke, the Chairman of the Nottinghamshire Police Authority. Nottingham was recently named as the "crime capital" of Britain both for overall crime and a large number of individual serious offences. The report can be found here (PDF). The blog argues that the local police chief should

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1150110306690004652006-06-12T11:01:00.000Z2006-06-12T11:05:24.946Z

Laban Tall is on the money again with a cutting critique of the myth of increasing domestic violence during the World Cup and, indeed, high-profile sporting events. Particularly intriguing was the definition of domestic violence adopted by one of the questionable studies purporting to lead to such results. "Verbal abuse" is domestic violence. The report doesn't say to whom it must be directed,

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1150065246613564932006-06-11T22:26:00.000Z2006-06-11T22:49:27.103Z

During my recent travels and in an attempt to sate my excitement prior to the World Cup I have been poring the sports pages of various newspapers in detail. A recurrent theme was intense irritation at the terrible treatment received by both logic and the English language at the hands of public figures and journalists.One cannot give 110%. It is physically and practically impossible. Yet in one

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1150064754448004132006-06-11T22:19:00.000Z2006-06-11T22:35:48.603Z

In celebration of Portugal's less than convincing victory over Angola in the World Cup tonight; some evidence of my recent visit to Lisbon in Portugal. I was intrigued yet again by just how closely connected Europe is. I spent part of one evening speaking, as an Englishman, in French to a Spanish taxi-driver in the Portuguese capital in a car otherwise full of Germans! That, of course, is a

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1150064112472967292006-06-11T22:13:00.000Z2006-06-11T22:26:32.790Z

Apologies for my absence of the last two weeks. Bar finals, business, the girlfriend and a conference in Lisbon have distracted me too much from blogging. Normal service should, I'm glad to say, now resume. Thank you to those readers who've contacted me to lament about my absence!

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1148382960931483532006-05-23T11:11:00.000Z2006-05-23T11:16:00.966Z

John Reid's announcing that the Home Office is "not fit for purpose". After nine years of Labour Government whose fault is that? Whilst John Reid's frankness and apparent willingness to square up to the civil service (the Cabinet Secretary ruled out jobs being at risk after all the calamities - Reid told MPs not to bet on it) is to be applauded, how his Government can retain any credibility at

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1148383165846370042006-05-23T11:08:00.000Z2006-05-23T11:19:25.846Z

This isn't scandalous. It's sick.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1147993226004426482006-05-18T22:59:00.000Z2006-05-18T23:00:26.026Z

What tragic news about the passing away of Eric Forth. He was a great man, a committed Parliamentarian and someone of great passion and conviction. There are too few like him.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1147938017959058972006-05-18T07:37:00.000Z2006-05-18T07:40:17.983Z

Boris Johnson is quite right. Lecturers on strike who make sure that students do not receive their exam results - for which, after all, they are now paying - should have their wages docked. Particularly in light of the attempted pressure the AUT sought to bring on the Government in relation to tuition fees - on the basis, remember, that they piously had students' interests at heart while the

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1147938334571944092006-05-18T07:25:00.000Z2006-05-18T07:45:34.573Z

A good friend lies behind this latest wheeze: Pulling Power. What do you think of it as the latest addition to online networking sites?Its blurb says;"Welcome to Pulling Power: the first and only political dating service in the UK!Pulling Power is about helping the political get personal. I hope you will find our cross party service acts as an opportunity to stimulate more than just debate

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1147607785466714842006-05-14T11:54:00.000Z2006-05-14T11:56:25.466Z

I'm often quick to mock David Milliband but to get where he is in the Labour Party he must at least have some political nous. Here he is in today's Observer. In an otherwise anodine, tedious and fairly childish interview he does come out with this gem:"The two traditions of Conservative politics that have co-existed for the last 100 years - the commitment to open markets and a commitment to

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1147424942616946882006-05-12T08:53:00.000Z2006-05-12T09:09:02.643Z

Question Time last night was a cracking programme. With one of the best line-ups for a long time - Michael Heseltine, Hazel Blears (Labour Party Chairman), Ming Campbell and Piers Moron - the political climate of today and, I'd suggest, the next few years was mapped out brilliantly.Blears blathered and was really under the cosh. It was most surprising that Campbell made an appearance since there

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1147166179891106212006-05-09T09:11:00.000Z2006-05-09T09:16:19.936Z

Rejoice! Today's Populus poll for the Times is excellent, fabulous news. The message from the news of the last week is that the Conservatives are back. For the first time in a long, long time, the Tories look in fine fettle. Nevertheless, there is still much work to be done.A resurgent bounce by Labour would bring us all but neck-and-neck and it only then takes a very small "stop the Tories"

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1146824190348768872006-05-05T10:12:00.000Z2006-05-05T10:16:30.350Z

What has changed in the last five days?On 30 April, a Downing Street spokesman said the prime minister was "totally supportive of the home secretary in resolving the problems that he has been addressing over the last few days".On 5 May, Tony Blair sacks Charles Clarke as Home Secretary.I know the Prime Minister's credibility and integrity is in complete tatters anyway but I just can't see how he

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1146823291980004842006-05-05T09:57:00.000Z2006-05-05T10:02:51.440Z

What a great night for the Tories. Vast progress at the expense of Labour and with the LDP going nowhere.The other big theme seems to be the BNP and I fear that here we are in grave danger of becoming overly paranoid about a tiny, bizarre political movement which will only assist it. The BNP should not worry us overly but it should be, in the spirit of British debate, ritually humiliated and

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1146785092200858022006-05-04T23:16:00.000Z2006-05-04T23:24:52.203Z

Just heard the rumours about the Cabinet reshuffle which is supposedly going to take place tomorrow to overshadow the news of Labour's bloody nose at the local elections. It has been so obvious that it would be abused in this way way for months that it surely can't have the effect Downing Street must be hoping. The Blair administration is now so far past parody it is becoming humiliating for

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1146784449119596082006-05-04T23:05:00.000Z2006-05-04T23:15:57.006Z

Back in. Totally cream-crackered. Just heard a fascinating clip on the BBC coverage. Girl at bar is interviewed and asked about how she voted. She replied that she wasn't really party political so uses her vote tactically. So who did she vote for? Oh, the LibDems. I can't help but feel this accounts for a fair share of the LibDem support - people who don't identify themselves as party animals

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1146752427926006672006-05-04T14:18:00.000Z2006-05-04T14:20:27.956Z

A very brief post just to apologise for inactivity. You can blame local elections. Just having a quick break for a brief lunch. Lovely day for it down in London which would seem likely to exaggerate any swing with interested voters easier to pull out. We shall see... Mood on the doorsteps ever more receptive.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1146312202651690482006-04-29T12:02:00.000Z2006-04-29T12:03:22.680Z

..from Iain Dale. Breaking a Home Office embargo. Opportunism...

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1146228084739344622006-04-28T12:27:00.000Z2006-04-28T12:41:58.676Z

An interesting email from the LibDems falls into Trust People's inbox this morning. Nick Clegg declares"It's very simple - the Home Office has made a huge blunder in losing track of over1,000 convicted criminals before deportation proceedings could be considered.The Government has failed to keep track of some very dangerous individuals. Under questioning from me on Wednesday, Charles Clarke

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1146143679743055862006-04-27T13:12:00.000Z2006-04-27T13:14:39.766Z

So the FA is offering the England manager's job to Luiz Felipe Scolari having overlooked homegrown options including Steve McClaren, Alan Curbishley, Sam Allardyce and Martin O'Neil. Now, I have no problem in principle with the appointment of foreign coaches even though I would, ideally, prefer an Englishman or even a Brit. Despite this the FA's selection causes me not inconsiderable

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1146125470000777532006-04-27T08:04:00.000Z2006-04-27T08:11:10.066Z

Well, what a torrid time for the Government. I'm not one who is keen to overstate whether yesterday's events are uniquely significant; it's easy to let individual events assume greater importance than they'll ever actually have whilst they're being experienced. Nonetheless it does signal an increasingly desperate turn in the fortunes of New Labour.It is vital, therefore, that the Conservatives

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1146069020851535432006-04-26T16:29:00.000Z2006-04-26T16:30:20.886Z

ChameleonArmy.com has now launched. Check it out and put your thinking caps on.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1146058930310540372006-04-26T13:38:00.000Z2006-04-26T13:42:10.340Z

So the so-called Criminal Justice System can see sense after all and respond to public needs when it has to. The CPS has announced that it is dropping the prosecution against the boy who called an Asian friend a "Paki" and "Bin Laden" in their school playground. Trust People reported on the sterling response of the district judge hearing the case earlier in the month.Perhaps now the police will

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1146039393806468622006-04-26T08:12:00.000Z2006-04-26T08:16:33.846Z

This story was always going to run and run but now it just defies belief. Charles Clarke knew about the more than 1,000 prisoners released into the British community who should have been deported before Christmas and the news of it has only just been released now. It says it all about Blair's Britain that prisoners are being released into society more lightly than adverse information, doesn't it?

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1145979637749552382006-04-25T15:39:00.000Z2006-04-25T15:40:37.770Z

You can read my inaugural post over at The Touchline Bawler here.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1145976541131533212006-04-25T14:38:00.000Z2006-04-25T14:53:01.840Z

The Home Secretary has released over 1000 foreign criminals into our country who should have been deported at the end of their sentence. He has, however, apologised. That is supposed to be enough.I have to say that this entire episode makes me livid. The way this Government has administered the Home Office, whether under Straw, Blunkett or Clarke, has been nothing short of scandalously

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1145972741415794072006-04-25T13:32:00.000Z2006-04-25T13:45:41.440Z

Bar exams done and dusted then, only "so-called" "vocational assessments" to go. Bliss.This also means a resumption of normal, and more frequent, blogging service. I hope to get a summary of my campaign experiences from the forthcoming batch of local elections up soon. The blogroll will also be suitably updated in the next few days.Later this afternoon I shall also be making my inaugural post on

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1145779235819628692006-04-23T08:00:00.000Z2006-04-23T08:00:35.820Z

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1145779072415177812006-04-23T07:53:00.000Z2006-04-23T07:57:52.416Z

Crisis? What crisis? As the NHS lays off more staff, it becomes clear that there has been massive and profligate overspending on salaries and it is even more apparent that nobody in Government has the faintest idea what's going on Patricia Hewitt declares this as the "best ever" year in the history of the NHS. Who is she kidding? I know it is textbook Labour territory to "make it so" by "

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1145778759502748172006-04-23T07:51:00.000Z2006-04-23T07:52:39.516Z

Laban Tall uncovers yet more worrying evidence...

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1145695643574228222006-04-22T08:39:00.000Z2006-04-22T08:47:24.636Z

As Newcastle have struggled to really impose themselves on the Premiership in recent years and as he refused to allow himself to be dragged back on to the international stage he quit in 2000 it's been easy to forget Alan Shearer. Now his career has been ended three games before the end of his last season in professional football we ought to look back on a stellar career and a great, classic

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1145446379901226452006-04-19T11:18:00.000Z2006-04-19T11:32:59.973Z

I've said before that Bernard Jenkin's heart doesn't seem to be with the Tory Party's positive discrimination "Priority List" and today there's yet more evidence that's the case. In the Guardian he opines that"When you compare it to what I went through, I was public school, Oxbridge, son of a cabinet minister [Patrick Jenkin] and the system almost deferred to me, in a rather embarrassing way."I

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1145361859989399332006-04-18T11:53:00.000Z2006-04-18T12:04:20.186Z

I'm sure it's a nice stunt for the LibDems in advance of the local elections for Ming to harp on about his great sacrifice for the environment - selling his gas-guzzling Jaguar - but this is far from news. Anybody with a memory longer than a goldfish will recall that he was pledging to sell it, saying it had gone into a barn over four months ago. Nick Assinder's article on the BBC website (linked

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1145281356055517532006-04-17T13:37:00.000Z2006-04-17T13:42:36.056Z

This potential explanation from a Guardian article looking at the increase in unemployment:"A more troubling analysis, floated by Ben Broadbent at Goldman Sachs, is that the increase in unemployment over the past year or so has been the result, not of a cyclical weakness in growth, but of a structural deterioration in the labour market prompted by a higher minimum wage, big rises in public-sector

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1145280817987468592006-04-17T13:27:00.000Z2006-04-17T13:33:38.036Z

According to Hamas the suicide bomber who killed six people in a falafel restaurant in Tel Aviv earlier today was acting in "self defence". Their spokesman even went so far as saying "Our people... have every right to use all means to defend themselves". Even if you take as given the assumption that some Palestinians are being heavily oppressed, the doctrine of self-defence cannot be stretched to

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1145098133523444802006-04-15T10:46:00.000Z2006-04-15T10:48:53.533Z

The Labour Party have launched another serious, considered and mature website concerning Mr Cameron's supposed and so-called "flip-flops". Aside from being annoyed at the way this term has seaped into national political consciousness I'd rather be a flip-flopper than a liar. Does anyone remember Labour's 2001 manifesto? "We will not introduce top-up fees and have legislated to prevent them?" I'm

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1145006181972959652006-04-14T09:14:00.000Z2006-04-14T09:32:08.213Z

The Pope dispells rumours he has converted to Judaism and the Tories are a right-wing party apparently... He'd have been better off staying asleep surely?

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1144940993938548172006-04-13T15:06:00.000Z2006-04-13T15:09:53.950Z

So the LibDems are bickering over Ming's nervousness on big occasions. Simon Hughes has commented on it as part, I have to say, of a broadly complimentary statement about him but has in turn been leapt upon by others in the front bench team. You'd have thought that their last bout of blood letting would have got it out of their system wouldn't you? Nonetheless, Hughes clearly has to learn that in

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1144937782534609062006-04-13T14:11:00.000Z2006-04-13T14:20:17.566Z

With the recent news that the police investigation into the "loans for peerages" scandal has yielded its first arrest, those who rubbished the inquiry, most notably Alastair Campbell called it "ridiculous", have plenty of egg on their faces. The big question now is how many more arrests are to come. Surely Lord Levy must be feeling distinctly uncomfortable this afternoon; the challenge for the

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1144843245528754982006-04-12T11:57:00.000Z2006-04-12T12:00:45.543Z

My critique of the EU for a long while has focussed around the risk of it becoming a barrier to greater integration around the world rather than helping it, despite the fact that the Euromaniacs want it to lead to greater integration within its borders. For me the building blocks of global interactions should be nation states, not continent-wide bargaining blocks which could hold back consensus.

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1144836767713391452006-04-12T10:07:00.000Z2006-04-12T10:12:47.716Z

Tim Montgomerie over at ConHome has launched the inaugural Conservative Movement awards. The idea is well worth checking out and could well grow to help cement together a non-party-political movement which can bring pressure to bear outside the conventional Westminster political system. This is the greatest lesson I believe we can learn from the States as I will say in the article I'm drafting

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1144836454125234702006-04-12T10:06:00.000Z2006-04-12T10:07:34.136Z

Bar finals coming up so I shall be blogging-lite for the next week or so. Apologies for not being here since Saturday; been busy in the factory! I have been disappointed for Don Berlusconi. I'd rather hoped his flair would come through better than it did. Nonetheless, I have a feeling he'll hope to live to fight another day...

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1144423593031123162006-04-07T15:24:00.000Z2006-04-07T15:26:33.050Z

A boy has been prosecuted by the CPS for calling a child in the playground the "n word" and "Paki". Read what the judge has to say though.Judge Finestein said he thought prosecuting the youngster was "crazy" and urged the Crown Prosecution Service to reverse its decision. He said: "Have we really got to the stage where we are prosecuting 10-year-old boys because of political correctness? I was

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343507.post-1144422768533727572006-04-07T15:11:00.000Z2006-04-07T15:12:48.553Z

Conservative values are all about trusting people: Cameron

Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002358087343062031noreply@blogger.com0